Many people are using cannabis for IBS with great success in managing symptoms like nausea, cramps and stomach pains. Here’s how.

The science and research behind cannabis and IBS has linked the imbalances of our endocannabinoid system with certain IBS symptoms.

What is IBS?

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a collection of symptoms which create discomfort in the abdominal area, resulting in the inflammation of the digestive tract.

Most of the times, the symptoms intensify over several years which makes IBS really tricky to diagnose.

There is no specific lab test that can detect it. Usually, the diagnosis involves excluding conditions like parasitic infections, lactose intolerance tests and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth which all produce symptoms like IBS.

What causes IBS?

Although it’s still unknown what exactly causes IBS, many experts believe that IBS is a gut-brain axis related issue—the two are much more connected than you’d think, and it is now well known that stress can trigger gastrointestinal issues in some individuals.

The stress response in IBS patients causes abnormalities in the functioning of the sympathetic nervous system (one of the divisions of the autonomic or “subconscious” nervous system) and to the HPA axis.

The HPA axis is a term used to describe the connection of influences and feedbacks between the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland and the adrenal glands.

These three glands control numerous processes within us, including our reactions to stress, digestion, immune system response, sexuality, energy storing and spending, and general mood.

Other possible causes of IBS include gastroenteritis infections, vitamin D deficiency, as well as some bacteria and fungi.

The connection between IBS and the endocannabinoid system

The discovery of the endocannabinoid system prompted numerous physicians and authors to look the human biochemistry from a different angle.

The researchers quickly started to realize that the ECS is responsible for maintaining the delicate balance of all other systems of our body (including the GI tract), and this is why activating the endocannabinoid system helps with IBS issues.

There is a lot of cellular endocannabinoid receptors in practically every important part of our body, including the entire digestive system.

We produce endocannabinoids—internal cannabinoid-like compounds, that bind to these cellular endocannabinoid receptors.

When the body doesn’t produce enough endocannabinoids on its own, that throws the body out of balance. This is where compounds from cannabis make their entrance.

As one of the most famous pro-cannabis researchers, Dr. Ethan B. Russo was the first to make a link between the deficiency of internal endocannabinoid compounds and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Doctor Russo claims that people with IBS produce insufficient quantities of endocannabinoids which causes a domino-fall-like breakdown of other processes in the body. (1)

Research on cannabis and IBS

Cannabis is also known as a natural analgesic and anxiolytic, and both of these traits are sought-after for treating IBS symptoms. (3)

One study from 2004 looked at cannabinoids as a treatment option for managing bowel diseases symptoms (including IBS), because of their anti-inflammatory properties, but also the ability to diminish pain levels. The study found that there are potential benefits for stimulating endocannabinoid receptors. (4)

A more thorough study from 2012 showed more tangible results. During a three-month period, 13 patients with long-standing IBS were given cannabis.

After the three months expired, all patients reported an improvement in general quality of life, with positive markers on overall health, ability to work, social functioning, pain and depression. (5)

Another study also had positive results, but this time using just one compound—CBD. (6) This is promising to those looking to treat some of the persistent IBS symptoms without experiencing the psychotropic effects of THC.

Cannabis research still has a long way to go regarding this topic, and it will take more clinical trials to fully understand how cannabis helps with IBS.

How to choose the best strain for IBS?

According to the studies on cannabis and IBS, both high-THC and high-CBD strains have the potential to relieve symptoms.

Using products with a 1:1 ratio of THC to CBD is probably the smartest therapeutic route as it will keep the inflammation down without any unwanted psychoactive effects.

Since the effects of cannabis are subjective you will need two things:

Several strains to experiment with—check our Strainblazer tool which helps you easily filter through all the medical strains currently sold in Canada.

An in-depth dosage guide—we teamed up with Dr. Dustin Sulak (he treated over 18,000 people with cannabis) to create a free eBook on cannabis dosage. It contains precise instructions on how to dose THC, CBD and THC/CBD products. You can download the eBook here for free.

I have chronic IBS and have for years at times it has stopped me from doing things like work school you name it I have been through test after test and have tried every medicine you can think of cannabis is the only effective thing iv used that actually has worked

You seem to be confusing Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in the studies you refer to, such as reference #5. IBS is not at all related to IBD and inflammation is not normally considered part of IBS.

It’s a common mistake but can be confusing to patients trying to understand their disorder.

To a previous post. Please understand that inflammation is often present with IBS, particularly when there is a prolonged flare up. You are correct that IBS and IBD are two different things, however you see things like inflammation, mucous and pain with both.